London Short Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, 2014 NAMM Show, 56th Grammy Awards, are highlights

in January's Global Media and Entertainment Industry

IrvineInternationalFilmFestivalatLagunaHillsanticipatesafestivalrunningthroughJanuary16whereindustrymemberscannetworkandhostavenueforthe publictowatchfilmandinteractwithfilmmakersmostlythroughQandAafterthescreenings.OnJanuary11,"KarenBlack:OnActing"willbeascreening followedbyapaneldiscussionwiththedirector,RussellBrownthatwasgivenbythelateactresswhowasanAcademyAwardnomineeandGoldenGlobewinner. In75minutes,theindepthinterviewfromthisveryrespectedperformerofhergenerationcoverseverythingfromperfectingregionalaccentstofindinga charactersinnerneeds.ThereisascheduledInternationalCinematographersGuildPanelDiscussiononJanuary12,withthepresentationof10shortfilms honoringthebestofICGsemergingcinematographers. MultiEmmyawardwinningactor,EdAsner,aformerMaryTylerMooreshowregularandpastpresidentofSAG,isIIFF's2014recipientofthefestival's "LifetimeAchievementAward"asanactorandwillattendJanuary12foraspecialscreeninganddiscussion.JohnG.Avildsen,OscarwinningDirectorof"Rocky" isthefestival's2014recipientofthe"LfetimeAchievementAard"asdirectorandwillbeinpersononJanuary16.FestivitiesbeginwithanOpeningNightPartyand concludeswithanAwardShowatwhichOscarnominationswillbeannounced. TheLondonShortFilmFestivalisnowinits11thyearintheCityofWestminsterdistrict.DuringthenearlytwoweekrunfromJanuary1019,screeningsarerun outofanumberofindependentcinemasandvenuesintheareashowcasingshortfilmsandinteractiveevents.Therearespecialeventsessionsthatareplannedas well.OnJanuary13,theBritishCouncilstagesaneventappealingtobothfilmmakersandthoseinterestedindevelopingacareerinthefestivalsector.OnJanuary 14,TorinoFilmLab,aninternationalorganizationsupportingyoungtalentsfromallovertheworldthroughtraining,developmentandfundingactivities,andwitha principlefocusonfirstandsecondfeaturefilms,makesapresentation.Followingthis,CinemaJamconductsapaneldiscussionoutliningthreeperspectivesonhow peopleworkingintheshortfilmformatcanbuildaviablecareer.OnJanuary15,RoyalAcademyofDramaticArtconductsasessionspecificallydesignedfor directorsonhowbesttoworkwithactors.OnJanuary16,ThinkSyncoffersamusicsupervisionsessionforselectingtherighttrackforashortfilm.Lateron,a panelofindustryexpertsfromLondonFilmAcademyandtheInstituteforInternationalFilmFinancingpresentthemostrecentinsiderknowledgeandtipsonhow tosecurefilmfunding. OtherLondonShortFilmFestivalspecialeventscreeningswillinclude:aprogrammeofinventiveshortsmadeonashoestringbudgetonJanuary10,acomedy selectioninassociationwiththeBritishFilmInstitutesFutureFilmforyoungeraudiencesonJanuary11,thefirstofthreedocumentaryprogrammesinthisyear's festival,screenedJanuary12,aneclecticmixofanimation,documentaryandexperimentalfootageofferedinthisyear'sMusicandVideoprogram,January13,the BFI'sGothicseasonwithaselectionofdisturbingandthoughtprovokingshortstitled"TheGothicandtheGrotesque"onJanuary14,and"CelluloidTraces"drawn togetherinaprogramofexperimentalwork,onJanuary19.TheLondonShortFilmFestivalismeanttobeameccafortheUKsyoungcreativetalentcombining independentshorts,pluslivemusic,training,parties,artandfashion. Celebratingits30thyearfromParkCity,TheSundanceFilmFestivalshowcasesdramaticanddocumentaryfilmsfromemergingandestablishedartists,innovative shortfilms,filmmakerforumsandpanels,livemusicperformancesandfilmcomposerevents,whileseemingtoaddtotheprogramlistingofeventsandactivities yearoveryear.Inadditiontodiscoveringfilmmaking'snewesttalentthroughtheFestival'sprogramofdocumentary,dramatic,andshortfilms,Festivalgoers experiencelivemusicperformances,paneldiscussionswithleadingfilmmakersandindustryfigures,cuttingedgemediainstallations,partiescelebratingtheFestival

community,andmore. The2014SundanceFilmFestivalopenswithscreeningsfromthecompetitionfilmlineup,aswellastheopeningofNewFrontier.Aplannedfundraiserand kickoffforthe2014SundanceFilmFestivaltakesshapeasaneveningtocelebrateindependentartistsandtheirwork.Thiseventincludescocktailswith filmmakers,reservedseatingattheDayOnescreening,dinnerwithartistsandeverythingendingwithapartyatLegacyLodgeatParkCityMountainResort.This year,SundanceInstituteishonoredtocongratulatePresidentandFounderRobertRedfordonhisGoldenGlobeBestActornominationforhisroleandperformance inJ.C.Chandor'sfilm'AllIsLost'.Inaddition,theInstituecongratulatesJulieDelpyonhernominationforBestActressinaMusicalorComedyforher performanceinRichardLinklater's'BeforeMidnight'. Onthefestivalgrounds,YouTubeonMainStreetwillbehostingthefilmmakingcommunitytodailyactivitythatincludeliveSundanceFilmFestivalproduction, screenings,panels,happyhours,andmuchmore.CanonU.S.A.,InchasplannedaJanuary20paneldiscussionandscreeningspotlightingthecraftof cinematographyinthefieldofMicrocinema.Panelistswillsharevaluableinsights,anecdotes,andtechnicalknowledge,aswellasdiscusstheirrealworld experiencewiththeCanonCinemaEOSlineofprofessionaldigitalcamerasandlenses.TocelebratetheU.S.premiereofDougAitken'sproject,TheSource (evolving),theartist,withartcollector,MauriceMarciano,willdiscusshowideasbeginandthefutureofcreativityinthe21stcentury.TheJanuary18talkistobe anexplorationacrosscreativedisciplinesfilm,visualarts,musicandarchitecture. InApril,SundanceoffersitsthirdSundanceLondonprogram,presentingacrosssectionoffilmsfreshfromSundanceFilmFestivalamixofdocumentaryand narrativefeatures,madebyfirsttimeandestablisheddirectors,andshortfilmsfromaroundtheglobe.SundanceLondonispresentedbyRobertRedford,Sundance Institute,andAEGEurope.TheclosingnightAwardsCeremonyandReceptionendswiththeAwardsNightPartyatBasinRecreationFieldHouse. About31milesdowntheroad(inamannerofspeaking)fromtheSundanceFestivalinParkCity,SlamdanceFilmFestivalhascarriedonitstraditionservingasa showcaseforthediscoveryofnewandemergingtalentandnurturingnewindependentartistsandtheircinematicvisionfor20yearsnow.Forits20thanniversary, January1723,SlamdancehasplannedSpecialScreenings,BeyondandShortsprograms,thepremiereoftheDIYdocumentarythatfollowsthehistorical developmentoftheDoItYourselfindiefilmmovement.Anexpandedshortfilmprogramsinclude62AmericanandInternationalproductionsincluding24World, fiveNorthAmericanandeightU.S.Premieres.The2014ShortsshowcaseincludesNarrative,Documentary,Animation,AnarchyandanewExperimental Program. TheSlamdanceScreenwritingandTeleplayCompetitionisamainstayofthefestival.Thecompetitionconsistsoffourcategories:feature,short,horror,original teleplay/webisode.Awardsaregiventothetopthreescriptsineachcategory.Inadditiontothat,JuntoBoxFilmsandSlamdancewillpresentthenewGrandPrize forthebestfeaturelengthscreenplay.MixBit.com,andTheSlamdanceFilmFestivalhavejoinedforcestolaunchanewtrailercontestthatgivesemerging Slamdancedirectorsachancetocreatetheirbesttrailerforthe2014SlamdanceFilmFestival.Tocompete,filmmakerswhosefilmshavebeenacceptedintothe 2014SlamdanceFilmFestivalwillagreetouploadtheirtrailerstoMixBit.com,whereSlamdanceattendeesandtheMixBitcommunitycanremixthehighquality clipsandrepurposethetrailersinnewandcreativeways.ThecompetitiongoesliveDecember6th,2013atwww.MixBit.com/SlamdanceandwillcloseJanuary 3rd,2014. Slamdancecountsamongitsalumnimanynotablewritersanddirectorswhofirstgainednoticeatthefestival,includingChristopherNolan,MarcForster,Jared Hess,BenhZeitlin,LynnSheltonandLenaDunham.OrenPelisPARANORMALACTIVITYoriginallyacquiredfromSlamdancewentontogrossover$190 millionattheBoxOffice.In2013,morethanhalfoftheSlamdancecompetitionfeatureswerepickedupforVODdistribution.Eachyearsignificantcashand serviceprizesareawardedtoallSparkyAwardrecipients.Slamdanceoffersselectedfeatureandshortfilmstheatricalshowingsduringthefollowingyearthrough theSlamdanceOnTheRoadprogram. NAMMistheanticipatedmusicproductsindustrytradeeventoftheyearbasedinAnaheim,thatfeaturesthelatestinnovationsandgearfrommorethan1,400 exhibitorsandnearly4,500brandsfromaroundtheworld.FromJanuary2326,visitorsgetacloseupofthelatestProaudiosoundtechnology,training,skills refinementintheHandsOnTraining(H.O.T.)Zoneandastagewhereyoucanseeitinaction,refineyourskillsandimprovethequalityofyourproductionsand attendtheNAMMTECAwards.Togetthepartystarted,therewillbetheNAMMPreShowBlockParty,startingat17:30onJanuary22.Thenightfeatureslive musicfromBernieWilliamsandGilParris,plusnetworking,foodtrucksandabeergardenattheNAMMGoProStageontheGrandPlaza. ReflectingonatrendofastronggrowthtrajectoryandtheElectronicDanceMusicandclubmusiccrazeattachedtoit,over300brandswilldebutintheareaof DJrelatedgearatthe2014NAMMShow.EDMgrabscenterstageeverynightoftheNAMMShowonTheVenueStagepresentedbyPioneerDJ.Located betweenthearenaandtheHilton,theVenuestagewillplayclubmusicfrom17:0020:00ThursdayandFridaynights.OnSaturdaynight,DJssponsoredbyMonster Productstakethestage. Thisyear'sNAMMexperiencewillalsoincludeagroupmusicmakingexperienceattheshowonthreeoccasions:an"AllIndustryDrumCircle"willbehostedby REMOInc.onJanuary24ConnSelmer,Inc.willsponsora"pBoneTromboneWorkshop"whereelementarystudentswithlittletonomusicbackgroundcan createabrassinstrumentmusicalexperience,onJanuary26thethirdannualUkeCirclewithukulelesprovidedbyKalaBrandMusic,issetforJanuary26. TheGrammyAwardsaresetforJanuary26thisyearandwilltakeplaceinLosAngeles.Theshowwillbebroadcastinhighdefinitionand5.1surroundsoundon theCBSTelevisionNetworkfrom20:0023:30(ET/PT).TheshowalsowillbecarriedonradioworldwideviaWestwoodOne,andwebcastonlineat GRAMMY.comandCBS.com,andonYouTube.TheGRAMMYsareapeerpresentedawardhonoringartisticachievement,technicalproficiencyandoverall excellenceintherecordingindustry,withoutregardtoalbumsalesorchartposition.AGRAMMYisawardedbyTheRecordingAcademy'svotingmembershipto acknowledgethisexcellenceintherecordingartsandsciences.TwotimeGRAMMYwinnerLLCOOLJreturnsashostofthisyear'sGRAMMYAwards. Someperformersannouncedearlyforthis56thAnnualGRAMMYAwardstelecastinclude:currentGRAMMYnomineeDaftPunknomineeKendrickLamar joinedbynomineesImagineDragonsnomineesP!nkandNateRuess(ofFUN.)andaspecial"GRAMMYMoment"featuringtwotimeGRAMMYwinnerMerle Haggard,threetimeGRAMMYwinnerand2014RecordingAcademyLifetimeAchievementAwardrecipientKrisKristofferson,seventimeGRAMMYwinner WillieNelson,andcurrentnomineeBlakeShelton.ThiswillbeDaftPunk'sfirsttelevisionperformancesincetheylastperformedonthe50thGRAMMYAwards telecastin2008.MerleHaggardwillbeperformingontheGRAMMYstageforthefirsttime,andthiswillbeP!nk'sandNateRuess'firsttimeperformingtogether onnetworktelevision. KendrickLamarhassevennominations:BestNewArtist,AlbumOfTheYearandBestRapAlbumforGoodKid,M.A.A.DCity,BestR&BPerformancefor "HowManyDrinks?"(withMiguel),BestRapPerformancefor"SwimmingPools(Drank),"BestRap/SungCollaborationfor"NowOrNever"(withMaryJ. Blige),andBestRapSongfor"F***in'Problems"(withTauheedEpps,AubreyGraham,RakimMayersandNoahShebib).TwotimeGRAMMYwinninggroup DaftPunkareupforfourawards:AlbumofTheYearandBestDance/ElectronicaAlbumforRandomAccessMemoriesandRecordofTheYearandBestPop Duo/GroupPerformancefor"GetLucky"(withPharrellWilliams).ImagineDragons,threetimeGRAMMYwinnerP!nk,twotimeGRAMMYwinnerNate Ruess,andBlakeSheltoneachhavetwonods.

The56thAnnualGRAMMYAwardsareproducedbyAEGEhrlichVenturesforTheRecordingAcademy.KenEhrlichisexecutiveproducer,LouisJ.Horvitzis director,andDavidWildandKenEhrlicharethewriters.Establishedin1957,TheRecordingAcademyisanorganizationofmusicians,songwriters,producers, engineersandrecordingprofessionalsthatisdedicatedtoimprovingtheculturalconditionandqualityoflifeformusicanditsmakers.TheAcademymaintainsa focusonitsmissionofrecognizingmusicalexcellence,advocatingforthewellbeingofmusicmakersandensuringmusicwillbealastingpartofthisculture. Theaboveeventsareonlyasampleofwhatisfullylisted.Completedetailsareonthe"Media,EntertainmentandPerformingArtsIndustryNewsandEvents" pageat:http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html.Theeventsblogalsoshowslinkstopagesthataretranslatedintotenofthemostwidelyusedinternational languagesreadovertheInternetotherthanEnglish.Thismonth'spictureplacementreflectstheupcoming56thAnnualGRAMMYAwards.Ifthephotodoesnot appearinthispostpleaseclickthislinktoviewit.Inalookaheadintonextmonth'sevents,wehave:MIDEM2014,inCannesAmericanSocietyof Cinematographers(ASC)holdtheirannualOutstandingAchievementAwards,inHollywoodWestministerMediaForum:Europeanmediapolicy...,inLondon EuropeanFilmMarket,inBerlinThemusicindustryrevenues,consolidationandthedigitalartist,inLondonTheAmericanModelAwards,inLasVegas CountryRadioSeminar,inNashville.